Product Overview
The 2016 Muga Reserva Selección Especial is the result of a selection of the finest grapes and finest wine produced of a Reserva classification at the winery. The nose reveals ripe, red berry fruit aromas together with notes of spices (pepper) and forest floor against a backdrop of coffee variations, such as milk coffee toffee and roasted coffee beans mingling with subtle well-integrated oak. It's silky on the palate with tannins showing through, indicating the wine's youth and good aging potential, and providing an elegant and balanced structure. This wine pairs well with red meats, lamb, and charcoal-grilled rockfish.
Varietal Composition: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo (Carignan), 3% Graciano
Appellation: Rioja DOC
Aging: 26 months in French oak barrels (40% new), followed by a minimum of 12 months in bottle prior to release
94+ Points - Wine Advocate
"The current vintage of the red that is their first option to have with food is the 2016 Selección Especial, whose grapes are selected from terraced vineyards in the Montes Obarenes and the Sierra Cantabria, from vines averaging 35 years of age. It fermented in oak vats and matured in French oak barrels for 26 months, and it's kept in bottle for at least 18 months before it's sold. This is serious and has freshness and some restraint in the palate; it's much more expressive, floral and aromatic and with more-integrated oak than the wines from five+ years ago. It's a more elegant vintage than the 2015 and every bit as good, or a tad better. Winemaker Isaac Muga considers 2016 a very good harvest. It was bottled in April 2019. This is among the best vintages of Selección Especial. 288,000 bottles produced." -LG, 10/30/20
94 Points - Vinous
"Dark ruby. Vibrant, smoke- and spice-accented cherry and cassis aromas show very good clarity and a hint of candied rose. Sappy, penetrating and focused on the palate, offering finely etched and appealingly sweet dark berry, cherry cola and spicecake flavors along with a subtle chewing tobacco nuance. Closes impressively long and lively, with resonating florality and chewy, youthfully gripping tannins adding final grip. Raised in new and used French oak barrels." -JR, Apr/2021
92 Points - Wine Spectator
"A bold red with a toasty undertone to the red plum and cherry fruit notes accented with anise, wild herb and cola. Engaging and complex. Drink now through 2030. 18,000 cases made, 4,500 cases imported." -GS, 8/31/21
